Garment-clasp.



' PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. P. GROASDALE. GARMENT CLASP.

APPLIOATIONIILED JUNE 15. 1905.

I G C 3 one ra rns e r orrrcn JOHN'P. CROASDALE, OF BERWYN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK A. FREEMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

eaniueur ciase.

Specification of Letters'lPatent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. QRoAsnALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ber wyn, inthe county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Garment-Clasp, of which the following is I a specification.

Myjinvention relates to improvements in garment-clasps. The object of my invention is to provide a garment-clasp which shall be efficient in securing the garment, which shall be easily operated, and which shall have its parts so correlated as to furnish no projections which will be liable to be caught by the clothing to cause the accidental opening or disengagement of said clasp.

My clasp is especially adapted for hosesupporters and is designed to be neat and symmetrical in conformation.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device in the operative osition. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. ig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the center of the clasp when in the closed posi tion. Fig. 4 is a similar view in the open position. Fig. 5 is a detail of the locking member. The drawings are all upon a slightly enlarged scale.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

My clasp comprises a stationary button parts member 1, having a fiat under surface adapt ed to lie against the leg. This member 1 has turned-up sides forming bearings for the pivot 5 of the pivoted memberZ. This pivoted member 2 has an aperture 13, adapted to receive the button 12, of resilient or yielding material, said button 12 being secured to the member 1. At the opposite end of pivoted member 2 is pivotally secured by the trunnions 4 the locking member 3, having the projection 9 adapted to engage with the inner side of the flat portion of button member 1 and provided upon the other side of its trunnions with the operative arm terminating in the slightly-turned-up tongue 10 for manual operation. An examination of Figs. 2 and 3 will show that the formation of locking member 3 is such that when the clasp is in the closed position the lower end of projection 9 is in engagement with the member 1 in the over-the-center position with respect to trunnions 4 and that therefore any pressure tending to cause the opening of pivoted member 2 will be effectually counteracted by said member 3 while in said closed position. By raising the tongue 10 of locking member 3 the said locking member is brought into the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby permitting the pivoted member 2 to respond to the actuation of spring 11 and to assume the open position, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is obvious that the pressure exerted by spring 1 1 when the device is in the closed position will tend to maintainsaid device in the closed position, the locking member 3 being in the over-thecenter position, as above described, and will consequently tend to resist the movement of the locking member to the open position. Such resistance is preferably just suflicient to prevent the accidental opening, but not sul'licient to seriously interfere with the intentional manipulation of said locking member 3.

The cooperation of the apertured' member 2 with the button 12 to secure the fabric therebetween is well known and obvious. When it is desired to insert the fabric between member 2 and button 12, the locking member 3 is pulled into the position shown in Fig. 4. When the fabric as, for instance, the stockingis brought into the required position, thelocking member 3 is brought into the closed position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and'3, securely locking the parts in the closed position. The button member 1, which is rigid and continuous throughout its length,

is secured at its upper extension by the clip 15 to the cord or web 14. The advantage of having the locking member 3 with its operative tongue 10 pointing downward when the clasp is in the operative position is that this is the position in which the locking member is most easily operated by the wearer of the clasp. The end of the slightlyupturned tongue 10 is substantially flush with the top of the button 12 and in close proximity to said button, closer than is actually shown in the drawings, since the drawings are upon an enlarged scale. This serves to minimize the liability of the accidental engagement of said tongue 10 to cause the unintentionaloperation of member 3. The sides 6 and'7 of memher 1 embrace the pivoted member 2 and the lower extension 9 of locking member 3. This serves to protect the various parts and adds to the neatness in appearance of the complete device. The bent-over portions or extensions 8 serve to form an incline surface from the upper end of pivoted member 2 and ldllfl'.

'member 2 and inclined from said apertured member 2 toward the web or cord 14. This construction also serves to prevent accidental catching of the garments upon said upper end of pivoted member 2 and also adds to the general neatness in appearance of the clasp. The button 12 is flanged at its base, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and is secured to the member 1 by slipping a metal ring 16 over the button against the flange and then bending the fingers 17 of member 1 (see Fig. 2) to engage said ring.

What I claim is- 1. In a garment-clasp, the combination of a supporting web or cord, a button member secured thereto, a cooperating apertured member pivotally secured to the button member, a lever operating between said two members to lock them in the closed position having a manually-operative arm overlying the apertured member, and a body secured to the button member having an extension parallel with the axis of movement of the apertured member and inclined from said apertured member toward the Web or cord.

2. In a garment-clasp, the combination of a button member, a button of yielding or resilient material secured thereto, an apertured member for cooperating therewith piv oted to the button member, a locking-lever operating between said two members having a manually-operative arm overlying the pivoted member and terminating in close proximity to the button and substantially flush with the top thereof.

3. In a garter-clasp, the combination of a button member having a flat extension and struck-up sides, an apertured member lying between and pivotally secured to said struckup sides, a locking member operating between said two members and said struck-up sides and having a manuallyoperative arm overlying the pivoted member, said button member having a bent-over portion forming an inclined surface between the pivoted memv her and the flat side of the button member.

4. In a garment-clasp, the combination of a supporting cord or web, a biitton member secured to said cord or web and having a flat extension and struck-up sides, an apertured member lying between and pivot-ally secured to said struck-up sides, a locking member operating between said two members and said struck-up sides having a manually-operative arm overlying the pivoted member, said button member having a bent-over portion forming an inclined surface between the pivoted member and'the supporting cord or Web.

7 JNO. P. CR OASDALE.

Witnesses EUGENE ZIEGLER, MAE HOFMANN. 

